Mainstay

A Henderson County social service agency with close ties to Trinity is Mainstay. Almost 25 years ago, a group from Trinity, working with the Reverend Albert D. Kissling (former Trinity Presbyterian Pastor), organized The Women’s Crisis Ministry in Hendersonville. The purpose of the organization was to help women deal with such crises as divorce and widowhood. A parallel organization was organized about the same time and adopted the name Mainstay. Its mission was to help battered women.

Within two years the two groups merged and occupied space in the Historic Court House. Over the years Mainstay has moved to several locations, but was located for almost 10 years on South Main Street. A major accomplishment was the establishment in 2006 of a four- unit transitional housing apartment building, built in cooperation with the Hendersonville Housing Assistance Corporation. This allowed clients to make a more gradual return to stable, safe, and independent housing. In early 2008, Mainstay moved to 133 Fifth Avenue West providing them with more space for child-friendly areas for daycare and play plus continuity of all other programs.

Mainstay utilizes the services of over 100 volunteers in areas of support groups, individual counseling for victims and their children, case management, court support and advocacy, outreach, transitional housing and daycare. The Purple Ribbon, Mainstay’s Thrift Store, provides a resource for direct assistance to clients who have needs for clothing and small household items. Primarily volunteers also staff this program.

Trinity continues to support Mainstay through its Local Mission Ministry budget. You are invited to call Mainstay, 693-3840, for a tour or to volunteer your time